THE GPA HAVE hit out at the inter-county game being portrayed as ‘the GAA’s problem child’ and feel it is disappointing the ‘so-called unsustainable costs of those inter-county games’ are being highlighted by the GAA.
The players’ group released a hard-hitting statement this evening in response to the launch yesterday of the 2019 GAA Director-General and Financial reports.
The GAA reported a bumper financial year as their total revenue surpassed €73 million and there was a 22% increase in gate receipts.
But Tom Ryan warned that inter-county team spending needed to be curbed after a 11.6% spike in 2019 saw the collective outlay around the country reach €29.74 million.
In a statement signed by GPA CEO Paul Flynn, the group state they are not happy with what they see as ‘this ploy of painting inter-county games in a negative light used consistently to keep players down’ and want the role of county players to the overall health of the GAA to be acknowledged given their role in driving up revenues.
The GPA welcome Ryan’s comments about working towards ‘building a modern form of sustainable amateurism’ and the constructive comments on the ongoing negotiations between the groups over a new deal after the current one expires at the close of 2020.
Here’s the statement in full:
GPA Statement on the GAA’s Annual Report
The Gaelic Players Association have read with interest the GAA’s Annual Report and Annual Accounts which were published yesterday. Their Annual Report is a comprehensive and thought-provoking document and we urge everyone with an interest in Gaelic games, but particularly our members, to give it the consideration it deserves.
For the past six months the GPA have been speaking about the need to work towards building a modern form of sustainable amateurism where our members can have balance between their playing, personal and professional lives. We have done this both publicly when speaking to the media and also privately in our ongoing meetings with the GAA and other stakeholders.
We welcome the fact that this sort of language is reflected in GAA Director General Tom Ryan’s commentary. Delivering a modern form of sustainable amateurism will be a central tenet of our new Strategic Plan which is close to being finalised. There will be differences between what that sustainability looks like for players and for the GAA but we will work on the players’ behalf to find the desired balance.
We also acknowledge the Director General’s constructive comments on the ongoing negotiations between the GPA and the GAA. We will keep lines of dialogue to the GAA open in this regard as we work towards achieving a new deal for our members. The previous arrangement rolls over for 2020.
However, it is disappointing for our members, that the inter-county game to which they dedicate 31 hours of their time each week, as they proudly represent their counties, is once again being presented as the GAA’s problem child. Far from being a problem child, inter-county games, and the players that make them the spectacle that they are, continue to be the jewel in the crown of the GAA.
Therefore, in the midst of the record-breaking revenues of €73.9 million reported for 2019 (up 16%), which are primarily and overwhelmingly generated off the inter county games, it is disappointing to see that it is the so-called unsustainable costs of those inter-county games commanding such a share of the GAA’s attention.
Instead we should be celebrating the inter-county games for the success story that they are. The resources our members help generate enable the GAA to be the fantastic community and club-based organisation it is.
The GAA proudly stated on the publication of their Annual Accounts that for every €1 revenue it takes in, it reinvests 84 cent across the association for which it should be rightly commended. Approximately 90% of those revenues are generated through the inter-county game; 49% by gate receipts, 27% by commercial income (sponsorship and media), 14% by distribution from Croke Park. All of these are attributable to the inter county games. This is only the central accounts and does not account for provincial and county board revenue.
Our inter-county games are the revenue generating machine that allows the GAA to compete with rugby, soccer and other sports for hearts and minds of the Irish public. Our inter-county games are the flagship promotional and developmental tool that keeps the GAA in the news and journalists, pundits, administrators, coaches, physios and all the other professionals working within the inter county games in jobs. Our inter-county games allow the GAA to thrive on the field and financially.
We have seen this ploy of painting inter county games in a negative light used consistently to keep players down, to make them feel like they are lucky to be involved in the games. Make no mistake, the players, past and present, are proud to represent their counties at the highest level but the GAA is also lucky to have those players who give so much of themselves, often to their own detriment, to allow it generate the revenues that keeps the association afloat.
Furthermore, inter county games not only generate revenue for the GAA but they also have a massive impact on the Irish economy. We will be publishing the findings of an Indecon Report undertaken on our behalf in the coming weeks. Indecon are renowned international economic consultants. The results illustrate clearly that impact of inter-county games.
Inter-county fixtures generate a total economic impact of €390 million annually, supporting 3,600 jobs and directly contributing over €40 million to the exchequer. This at a time when many of our players can barely make ends meet and in many cases cannot.
It is our view that the role of inter county games and our players to the overall health of the GAA, as evidenced in the Annual Report, needed to be acknowledged.
We hope all inter-county players, past and present, are proud of their role in driving the success of the GAA and that all aspiring young players are motivated to play their role in continuing this legacy.
We will be making no further comment at this time.
Paul Flynn
GPA CEO
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How about the GPA step up and be as transparent as the GAA are. They get millions each year and there is no clarity whatsoever in how they are distributed to players. Time for them to get their shop in order and stop complaining about everything the GAA says and does.
@Conor: the GAA needs to be a heck of alot more transparent. Massive money their receiving and no transparency
@Whoswho: they literally released the accounts yesterday
@Conor: the average salary in the GPA in 2017 was 77k so there probably is not much left to distribute.
@Conor: Exactly. John Horan only there because he was Dessie Farrell’s teacher and coach in Vincent’s CBS, and was anointed for the position by Dessie when he stepped down. It’s another quango, mates looking after mates.
@AJ McLaughlin: John horan is a gaa official not gpa? So I don’t know what position Farrell has supposedly appointed him to?
@Conor: 100%. Tell us how much you are paying yourself Flynner and we will take you seriously
@Conor: plenty of clarity. What BS genetalised bogoted perceived comment that is
Flynn on about €200k…I wonder why he’s defending the inter county game haha!
Unfortunately, for the average family, the cost involved in attending their County games has become too high.
Gone are the days of bringing your wife and children with you and following your teams run in the championship.
If your team happens to get to the provincial final and beyond then the cost of admission goes up and up. To the point where the people who go to most of the games can’t afford to continue attending.
You then have the part time fans coming out of the woodwork for the big games. We’ve all seen it.
I don’t know what the answer is to this but surely, with this kind of money coming in something can be sorted for families.
@Patrick Agnew: If this means less packed-lunch families eating sandwiches and drinking Cadet orange in the streets, can it really be considered a bad thing?
@This Guy: I take it you’ve never struggled to make ends meet and bring up children while trying to be able to afford to bring them to a football match?
If you had you wouldn’t be looking down your nose at those who do.
@This Guy: Yeah it would be a bad thing. That’s what makes the gaa uniquely Irish, if you want elitest bull stick to the rugby or go watch the premier league
The club game is the ‘jewel in the crown’ he mentions for gaa….intercounty game unwatchable until semi finals.
Bad move by Paul in my opinion. Team’s costs are out of control and the supporters are the ones who end up paying it.
Shocking stuff from the GPA
And according to the dubs money doesn’t matter
The GAA is at a cross roads between amateur and professional. It can’t have it both ways and The director general and the top brass know that too well. They are trying to stem the tide until it goes professional in some form. It’s only a matter of time before they admit that the game now at the top level is more than an amateur pastime. Time for a bit of honesty. The guys at the top level are expected to perform like premiership players and still do a day’s work before they prepare for the games every bit as intensely as the players in other codes who are well paid to perform
@Eamonn Byrne: Eamonn very few top level GAA players work full time.. anymore if any , most are in College … either on undergrad /post grad scholarships If the are working the most are working as primary or second level teachers.. other work in Sales / Marketing or as Brand Ambassadors for major Irish and Multi national company’s…
In my own county we compete at a high level in both Hurling & Football , and I would struggle to name a young Farmer , Trades man or other such professions that have paged with our county team in the past 15-20 years…..but this probably has really crystallized even more inside the past 10 yrs.
Most are highly facilitated by employers…. anyone who isn’t simply isn’t playing inter county GAA … it’s that simple…
The GAA is eating itself……
@Eamonn Byrne: “expected to perform”? Players do this for the enjoyment. Nobody makes them do it. Brilliant if you’re good enough to make a few bob out of it. More luck to whoever can. I’d only be jealous.
Christ this guy is full of it. Another PR statement disaster from his ivory towers 200k per yr gig. If this guy or the GPA really cared about all players why doesn’t he ever address the clubs fixture debacle in association with the CPA? 100% of all intercounty players came from their respective underage club structures that he plainly doesn’t want to be associated with! There’s a % fact for you Paul!
Another confidence and supply red herring
No time for the GPA. No need for the GPA. Cut the intercounty season to one third of current position. Then and only then can we get rid of the GPA. Flynn wont then be in a position to cry about inter county demands. Players are club players first. This GPA is the greatest gravy train in Ireland!!
“Competing with other sports”
I despair
The GAA are beginning sound like John Delaney and The FAI . Lots of cash for them self .and ffff the rest .
Inter-county players are no longer amateurs. When will the Revenue step in with an enquiry into both the GPA and GAA?
@David Shiels: your 100% right. They should at least get the tax break as other codes get who are on much bigger sweets and basically a career of free tax than anyone who’s making any coin out of playing a soley unique Irish sport. I’d rather they’d look at taxing the Irish equine industry which is now producing Oligarch type billionaires in our own backyard! Surely they could afford even our miserly corporate 12.5%
GAA must be investigated like FAI… All this money been sprouted about and still grass roots clubs having to scrimp and save… What a load of horses bollox
The GAA. Most corrupt organization since the church, dinasours running clubs with racism rife
@Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: they’re 100% behind the FAI in whatever que you have going on there Wiggy
@Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: FAI supporter I take it. You need to start reading some headlines mate